Islanders consider old school hall plan as Kerrera ‘booms’

KERRERA islanders have been granted £20,000 to look into buying the island’s former school and turning it into their first gathering hall for 20 years.

Isle of Kerrera Development Trust says the island’s ‘booming’ population means a meeting place is ‘more important than ever’ and is inviting people to send in ideas on how the building could be used.

The six-mile-long island opposite Oban is home to 55 full-time residents and attracts upwards of 15,000 visitors annually, but there are currently no services on the island.

To access shops, fuel, banking, post office, health services and education, islanders go to the mainland.

The island’s infrastructure is ‘fragile’, the trust added, with one road in very poor condition, private waste and water arrangements, information and communication technology issues and reliance on a ferry service which ends at 6pm each day. Kerrera is divided into north and south communities, linked to the mainland by ferries at Gallanach and Oban’s North Pier, but only joined to each other by a small dirt track.

Isle of Kerrera Development Trust chairman Martin Shields said: ‘Despite the thriving community and visitor numbers, it has no public shop, pub or village hall and the school closed its doors to pupils in 1997.

‘For residents, accessing social, recreational or learning opportunities on the mainland can be tricky with the regular ferry service ending at 6pm, and there’s no place on the island where people can get together to discuss the issues that affect them, or just socialise.

‘With a booming population of 13 children, with six under two, and some older residents heading into retirement, the community feels a place to meet is more important than ever.

‘Recently residents have begun a conversation about bringing the former school building back into community use, which could potentially provide a place for islanders to gather for the first time in 20 years.

‘Isle of Kerrera Development Trust has recently received an award of £19,633 from the Scottish Land Fund, enabling it to bring in expert help to find out more about what owning and running the building might involve and how to make it sustainable.’

Community Enterprise is now developing a five-year business plan for the former school, which will enable the community to decide whether to go for full ownership of the building.

Community Enterprise is keen to hear from individuals or businesses on the mainland or surrounding islands who would be interested in using the refurbished building.

Islanders would be delighted to hear from anyone with ideas for events that could take place in the former school, from yoga classes to children’s and tourism events. Contact www.ikdt.co.uk